During the 2018 NFL season, the Raiders finally got production from 2017 first rounder Gareon Conley, who proved to be one of the better cornerbacks in football. Conley, once healthy and able to contribute on a weekly basis, was the shutdown cornerback that the Raiders were hoping he would be when they took him at No. 24 overall two years ago.
Two years later, the Raiders hold the No. 24 pick once again, and they could roll the dice on another cornerback with the selection. The 2019 NFL Draft class does not have many first round talents at corner, but Byron Murphy is certainly one of them, and should hear his name call on the first night.
Murphy would be an excellent addition to a position group that will be headlined by Conley in 2019 and beyond. In addition, the Raiders should go out and re-sign Daryl Worley, who could be the team’s nickel back in 2019, giving the Raiders three young cornerbacks to build the secondary around. All of a sudden, a long-time weakness becomes a strength.